Investigating forced labour and severe labour exploitation in supply chains

Abstract This article explains how companies and legal professionals should investigate suspected forced labour and severe labour exploitation within global supply chains. While Human Rights Due Diligence is a broad and preventative process, incident investigations are reactive fact-finding exercises triggered when indicators of exploitation arise. This article therefore distinguishes clearly between these two processes and focuses specifically on investigative methods, decision making frameworks, and safeguarding principles required when forced labour is suspected. The article introduces the investigative mindset, the use of working hypotheses, methods for collecting and evaluating material, and trauma-informed approaches when engaging with persons harmed. It highlights common features of forced labour cases including coercive recruitment, document retention, debt bondage, restrictions on movement, intimidation, and dependency, and explains why these cases require specialist investigative practice. Because legal professionals increasingly advise companies on supply chain governance, compliance, crisis response, remediation, and cooperation with law enforcement, the article translates investigative concepts into a form relevant to their work. By clarifying terminology, evidential challenges, and the roles of investigators, company representatives and external partners, this article equips legal readers with a structured understanding of how effective investigations are carried out, how findings contribute to remediation, and how investigative outcomes feed into wider Human Rights Due Diligence expectations.